Karl Opfermann (1891 - 1960) - photo 1

Karl Opfermann

Karl Opfermann, a German sculptor and graphic artist born in 1891 in Rødding (now Denmark), carved a niche for himself in the realms of art and culture. His initial training as an ornament creator led him to the influential circles of Hamburg and Berlin, where he honed his artistic skills under the guidance of Heinz Wedding, Fritz Heit, and Richard Luksch. Opfermann's artistic journey was deeply intertwined with notable groups like the "Hamburgische Sezession" and the "Novembergruppe" in Berlin, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the local sculptural landscape from 1919 to 1933.

Tragically, Karl Opfermann's works became a target during the "Entartete Kunst" (Degenerate Art) action in 1937 by the Nazis, leading to their removal and destruction from German museums. A significant portion of his oeuvre was further lost in a bombing in 1943, which destroyed his studio in Hamburg. Despite these challenges, Opfermann's legacy persists, with efforts to reconstruct his life and works focusing on the years before 1943, the period before the destruction wrought by the Nazis and World War II.

Karl Opfermann's artistic expression was rooted in German Expressionism, a movement born out of resistance and reaction, emphasizing emotion and individual experience. His works, spanning various mediums including wood, stone, and ceramics, reflect a profound emotional depth and a unique exploration of human form and expression.

For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Karl Opfermann's work offers a compelling glimpse into the turbulent yet artistically rich period of early 20th-century Germany. His sculptures and graphic art, held in various collections throughout Germany, including Hamburg and Flensburg, stand as a testament to his enduring impact on German Expressionism.

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Date and place of birt:28 september 1891, Røddinge, Denmark
Date and place of death:7 march 1960, Ahrensburg, Germany
Nationality:Germany, Denmark
Period of activity: XX century
Specialization:Artist, Ceramist, Portraitist, Sculptor, Wood carver
Art school / group:Hamburg Secession
Genre:Portrait sculpture, Portrait
Art style:Art Nouveau, Expressionism, German Expressionism
Technique:Wood carving
Medium:Ceramic, Clay, Wood, Stone

Creators Germany

Guido Hampe (1839 - 1902)
Guido Hampe
1839 - 1902
Christianus Hendricus Hein (1815 - 1879)
Christianus Hendricus Hein
1815 - 1879
Victor Paul Mohn (1842 - 1911)
Victor Paul Mohn
1842 - 1911
Hans Wimmer (1907 - 1992)
Hans Wimmer
1907 - 1992
Johann König (1586 - 1642)
Johann König
1586 - 1642
Martin Klimas (1971)
Martin Klimas
1971
Richard Linderum (1851 - 1926)
Richard Linderum
1851 - 1926
Harald Klingelhöller (1954)
Harald Klingelhöller
1954
Yuri Albert (1959)
Yuri Albert
1959
Thomas Häfner (1928 - 1985)
Thomas Häfner
1928 - 1985
Willy Reetz (1892 - 1963)
Willy Reetz
1892 - 1963
Karl Dittert (1915 - 2013)
Karl Dittert
1915 - 2013
Dieter Tucholke (1934 - 2001)
Dieter Tucholke
1934 - 2001
Harald Metzkes (1929)
Harald Metzkes
1929
Ernst Friedrich Rietschel (1804 - 1861)
Ernst Friedrich Rietschel
1804 - 1861
Olga Weiss (1853 - 1903)
Olga Weiss
1853 - 1903

Creators Art Nouveau

Fritz Flinte (1876 - 1963)
Fritz Flinte
1876 - 1963
Marc Vedres (1870 - 1961)
Marc Vedres
1870 - 1961
Hans Rickers (1899 - 1979)
Hans Rickers
1899 - 1979
Jean Cocteau (1889 - 1963)
Jean Cocteau
1889 - 1963
Martin Wiegand (1867 - 1961)
Martin Wiegand
1867 - 1961
Konrad Vilhelm Mägi (1878 - 1925)
Konrad Vilhelm Mägi
1878 - 1925
Kate Lassen (1880 - 1956)
Kate Lassen
1880 - 1956
Alfred Heinsohn (1875 - 1927)
Alfred Heinsohn
1875 - 1927
Franz Metzner (1870 - 1919)
Franz Metzner
1870 - 1919
Carl Eugen Keel (1885 - 1961)
Carl Eugen Keel
1885 - 1961
Heinrich Nauen (1880 - 1940)
Heinrich Nauen
1880 - 1940
Emil Maetzel (1877 - 1955)
Emil Maetzel
1877 - 1955
Dieter Noss (1947)
Dieter Noss
1947
Michael Kagan (1980)
Michael Kagan
1980
Samuel Schellink (1876 - 1958)
Samuel Schellink
1876 - 1958
Georg Grasegger (1873 - 1927)
Georg Grasegger
1873 - 1927